Spacing attachment for type-writing machines.



No. 700,608. Patented ma 'zo, I902. E. v. BEALS.

SPAGING ATTACHMENT FOB TYPE WRITING MACHINES. (Application filed July 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Shana-Shoot FE l- \NVENTUR I -vo I m: "cams PEYERS co. PnoTugrmol, WASHINGTON. n. c.-

\SS 5 f g ml 5 N n v T J r/ I/ll/I/l/llIl/ll M a No. 700,608. Patented May 20, I902.

E. V. BEALS.

SPAGING ATTACHMENT FOB TYPE. WBITTNE MACHINES.-

(Application filed July 16, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' '(No Model.)

1.1M A 1w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERL V. BEALS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPACING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-NO- 700,608, dated. May 20, 1902. I

Application filed July 16, 1900,

the relative movement of the printing mechanism and the paper or paper-holding means to properly space words or characters in a line. In such machines the depression of a key not only causes the actuation of the printing mechanism, but likewise causes the advance of the platen or paper-holder one step,

it being necessary for the operator to always actuate the spacing key or bar to separate words or numerals by a space after the completion of aword or the'printing of a numeral.- C'onsequently much time is spent by the op erator in the actuation of the spacing key or bar, and a relatively large portion of the labor of writing upon atype-writing machine is expended in spacing, 'To reduce this 1a-' bor, it has been proposed to yieldingly connect the keys withthe type-bars to provide for a variable length of depression of the keys and to equip the escapement mechanism with,

provisions whereby'upon the depression of the key an abnormal distance the paper-holder or platen will be advanced two steps. There; is a decided objection, however, to this arrangement, first, because it is highly undesirable to interpose a yielding connection between the keys and the type-bars, as the ac tion of the type-bars should be positive to se'- cure proper results; second, because it is nec-' essary in manifolding-work to strike the keys a harder blow to secure a proper impression upon the duplicating sheets, which would with the device referred to cause the keys to be depressed a greater distance, and thereby effect the movement of the platen a double space, and, third, because of the necessity at the end of each word to depress the key with greater force against the tension of the spring,

Serial No. 23,750. (No model.)

and thereby call for the expenditure of an undue amount of nervous force and energy. The object of the present inventionis to lessen the time and energy heretofore required in printing a given amount of matter on a type-writing machine by eliminating the necessity of actuating a space bar or key to separate words or numerals in a sentence or the necessity of depressing the keys an abnormal distance against the tension of a spring.

To this end the invention consists of an attachment to a type-writing machine by means of which the platen or other paper-holding means may be fed forward a double space whenever desired by'the actuation of any one of the type-keys, so that the operator may not only depress a key to print the last letter of a word or to print the numeral, but may by a maintained depression and Without any secondary acts cause the advance of the platen or paper-holding means the usual distance to separate the last word ornu meral printed from the next tobe printed.

The invention may be embodied in numerous forms of mechanism and may be adapted to any typewriting or similarnnachine employing type-keys, printing mechanism actuated or controlled thereby, and a paper-holding platen or other means movable relatively to the printing mechanism and controlled'in its step-by-step movement by the type-keys, so that it will be understood that I am not limited in any way to the embodiment of the invention which I have seen fit to illustrate and describe, since as I am the first to have provided mechanism for accomplishing the purpose stated I consider that'any other mechanisnn for accomplishing the same purpose is 'in cluded within'the spirit and scope of my invention.

Referring to the-drawings, which accompany this specification, Figure 1 represents in section a so-called Remington type-wr iting machine equipped with my attachment. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same, the connection between the type-keys and the printing mechanism being omitted. Fig. '3 represents an enlarged view of the attachment, being a rear elevation of the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are front elevations of the mechanism in the positions assumed by the several parts when the carriage is at rest and is ad- ICO vanced a double space, respectively. Figs. 6 and 7 represent horizontal sections onthe line 6 6 of Fig. 4, showing the parts in two different positions, respectively. Fig. 8 represents a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. Fig. 9 represents a perspective view with the attachment removed from the machine. Fig. 10 represents a bottom view of the same. Fig. 11 represents a section on the line 11 11 of'Fig. 3. I

On the drawings, 20 indicate depressible type-keys in a Remington type-writer. Said keys are arranged in banks, as ordinarily, and are connected with the printing mechanism, which consists of pivoted type-bars 21. Each of these keys has a stroke of substantially unvaryinglength, as ordinarily, being positively connected to a type-bar 21. The carriage, which is indicated as a whole at 22, carries the rotatable platen 23, which supports the paper and holds it in position to receive the impact of the type on the bars 21. Movable with the carriage is a toothed bar 24, with which coop erates an escapement controlled either by the type keys or by a spacing bar 25. The toothed bar 24 in the present case is vertically movable to free it from the escapement; but I have not illustrated the devices which raise it, as they form no part of my invention.

Cooperating with the toothed bar 24 is the escapement previously alluded to, which consists of a rock-shaft 26, on which is mounted a sleeve 27, having a pawl carrier or arm 28, which is movable toward and from the framework 29 of the machine. Another arm 30 upon the sleeve extends forwardly and is connected by links 31 with a cross-bar 32, upon which the type-bars and the rearwardly-extending portions of the spacing-bar rest, so that when either of the latter is depressed the sleeve is rocked about the shaft 26 to permit the feeding of the carriage. A spring 33 is coiled about the sleeve 27 and has one end attached to the framework, as shown in Fig. 8, and the other to an adjusting device, (indi cated as a whole at 341,) said spring serving to hold the carrier 28 in the position shown in Fig. 8. Said carrier is provided with two pawls, one of which is movable relatively to theother, and I term them, respectively, the stationary pawl and the movable pawl. The stationary pawl is indicated at 34 and is secured rigidly to the carrier 28. The movable pawl 35 is mounted upon the end of a swinging arm 36, pivoted in a bracket 37, supported by the carrier 28. The pawl is hinged to the arm 36 to permit it to yield when the carriage is being moved in a reverse direction. A spring 38 is attached to the arms 28 and 36 to normally hold the pawls 34 35 out of alinement, (the latter one tooth in the rear of the other,) so that when the sleeve 27 is rocked inwardly to move the stationary pawl into engagement with the toothed bar the movable pawl will be returned to uormalposition to engage the next tooth on the toothed bar, whereupon when the carrier 28 is restored to original position the movable pawl will yield and permit the carriage to be fed forward a single step.

As thus far described the machine contains no part of my invention.

Hitherto adjustable means have been provided for limiting the movement of the movable pawl relatively to the stationary pawl, and in lieu thereof I employ a movable stop, which is adjustable and by means of which the carriage will be fed a single space or a double space, according to the will of the operator, upon'depression of any one of the type-keys or of the spacing key or bar. The said stop forms a part of an attachment which may be placed upon the machine by removing the adjustable means referred to and comprises a lever 40, which is pivoted at one end by a stud 41 to a bracket 42, adjustably secured to the carrier 28. The said bracket consists of a bar which is provided along its upper edge with a flange, to the under side of which the said lever is pivoted, said flange being indicated at 43 and being bent downwardly at its inner end, as at 431. The end of the lever projects beyond the inner end of the flange or web 43 and is adapted to be held in the path of the arm 36 bya leaf-spring 44, as shown in Fig. 7, to limit the movement of said pawl to one tooth. Said lever may, however, be moved to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which case it lies out of the path of the said arm 36, whereby the latter is limited in its movement to two teeth or to a movement equal to a double space by an adjusting-screw 45, passed through the downwardly-bent portion 431 at the end of the flange 43, as shown in Fig. 5. By means which I shall now describe the initial depression of a type-key and theinward movement of the carrier 28 causes the stop 40 to be thrown into the path of the movable pawl, so as to limit the feeding movement of the carriage to one tooth, provided the typekey be released immediately; but, on the other hand, if the depression of the type-key be continued an instant longer the movable stop is carried automatically out of the path of the movable pawl to permit it to move forward two teeth, so as to engage the second instead of the first tooth in the rear of that engaged by the stationary pawl, and thereby permit the carriage to be moved a double space when the type-key is released. To accomplish this, I journal in the bent ends of a bar 48, secured to the bracket 42 by a screw 49, a rock-shaft 46, which is equipped with a pin 47, (seedotted lines, Fig. 7,) adapted to engage the lever 40 and thrust it into the position shown in Fig. 6. The ends of the rockshaft are pointed, (not shown,) and are arranged in sockets in screws 51, passed through the ends of the bar 48. Rigidly secured upon the shaft is a weighted fiy-wheel, made of lead or other suitable heavy material. shaft and to an adjustable arm 54, adapted to be held in any position relatively to the A coiled spring 53 is connected to the g shaft by the screw 51-. This coiled spring 53 is strong enough to overcome the tension of the spring 44, whereby the stop is normally held'in'the'position shown in Fig. 6; but when the tension of the spring 53 is overcome the spring 44 moves the stop into the position shown in Fig. 7. To overcome the tension of the spring 53, I secure to the rock-shaft 46 a catch 55,with which a latch 56 is adapted to engage, said latch having a limiting-stop 561 and being pivoted upon the end of a lever 57, fulcrumed by a screw'58 on the top of the flange43. A spring 59 normally holds the parts 56 57 in the position shown in Fig. 6. A second lever is fulcrumed by a screw 61 on the top of the flange 43, and its end is bent to rest against the side of the lever 57. Said lever 60 carries a pin or projection 61, which is adapted to engage the framework 29 of the machine when the carrier 28 is thrust rearward. .Hence the forward movement of the pawl-carrier 28 causes the projection 61 to strike against the framework 29, whereby the lever 57 is rocked about its fulcrum to cause the latch 56 to engage the catch 55 and rotate the rock-shaft to permit the stop to move in the path of the arm 36 of the movable pawl. If at this time the type-key be released, the pawl-carrying arm 28 will move outward and the movable pawl 35 will engage the tooth next to that engaged by the stationary pawl; but if, on the contrary, the operator maintains the depression of the key the spring 53 will overcome the inertia of the weighted fly-wheel 52 and will reversely rotate the rock-shaft 46 far enough for the pin 47 to engage the stop and move it out of the path of the movable pawl-carrying arm 36 to permit the pawl to move still farther and engage the second tooth from the one engaged by the stationary pawl.

It may be here stated that the latch 56 and catch 55 are so constructed that the latch releases the catch just as the lever 57 reaches the end of its inward movement, so that if the operator does not wish the carriage to be moved a double space the keymust instantly be releasedto permit the pawl-carrier 28 to be thrown outward while the movable pawl has been allowed to move but a single tooth, for otherwise the spring 53 returns the'rockshaft to its original position and moves the stop out of the path of the pawl-carryin g arm 36, so that the pawl is permitted to move rearward still another tooth. By employing the weighted-fiy-wheel 52 there is an appreciable period of time between the rearward movement of the pawl-carrying arm 28 and the return of the movable stop to its normal position, the quick action of the latch 56 and catch- 55 rotating the rock-shaft with such force that the momentum of the fly-wheel tends towind up the spring 53 still farther before said spring can overcome the inertia of the weighted flywheel and reverse the rotation of the shaft.

From this descriptionv it will be seen that in operating a type-writing machine equipped i with this attachment allthat is necessary to secure the advance of -the carriage a double space is to depress the type-key for the letter at the end of a word a period of-time greater than necessary in printing the other. letters of the word and the carriage will be advanced automatically. The provision of the adj u'stable arm 54 for the spring enables operators to adjust to suit their-varying skill and temperaments the reactionary device, so as to vary the time necessary to maintain the depression of a key to secure the advance of the carriage a double space.

The bar 42, as previously described, is adjustably secured to the pawl-carrying arm 28. It is arranged transversely of said arm, as shown in Fig. 3, and is provided with a slot 67 through which a set-screw 68 is passed. To adjust the arm, I employ an adj usting-screw 69, which is passed into the arm 28 and which is'provided with a collar 70, entering a slot 71 in the bar, as shown in Fig. 11. A milled head 72 on the end of the screw permits it to be turned with ease.

' This attachment, as hereinbefore stated, may be employed upon machines of various kinds and may be constructed in a variety of ways,allwithoutdepartingfrom myinvention, whichincludes,broadly,the combination,with

keys each having a stroke of. unvariable length, of means operated by any one of the type-keys for causing an abnormally long movement of the paper or work holder to separate two words or numerals in a line by a space.

It is evident that by adjusting the stops each single space may be equal to two teeth on the bar and the double spacemay be equal to four teeth, and hence in using the words single space and double space I have in contemplation no particular distance through which the carriage is to be fed, save 1. A type-writing machine having a plurality of keys each having a stroke of unvaryin g length, a paper holding device, a feeding mechanism for causing the paper-holding device to be fed a single space, and means whereby the depression of any one of-the keys may cause said paper-holding device to be fed a double space.

2. A type-writing machine having means controlled by each of the keys for causing the paper-holding device to be fed automatically a single or a double space at the'will of r the operator, by a variation-in the period of depression of any .oneof thekeys; l

3. -A type-Writing machine having means for feeding the paper-holding device a double 1sipace upon maintained depression of each i. A type-writing machine having a plurality of type-keys each having a stroke of unvarying length,a paper-holding device, means for feeding said device, and an escapement controlled by each key for causing said device to be fed a single 'or a double space at the will of the operator.

5. Atype-writing machine having a plurality of type-keys each having a stroke of un-.

varying length, and means whereby a line of words made up of singly-spaced letters, said words separated by blank spaces, may be printed by the actuation of the type -keys without recourse to an independent spacing key or bar.

6. A type-writing machine having a plurality of type-keys each having a stroke of unvaryinglength,a paper-holding device, means for feeding said device and an escapement controlled by each of the type-keys for permitting the feeding of said device, said escapement having a stop movable automatically into and out of operative position to vary the length of the feeding movement of said device.

7. A type-writing machine having a plurality of type-keys each having a stroke of un varyinglength,a paper-holding device, means for feeding said device, and an escapement having a stop for permitting said device to be fed one space, and having a stop controlled by each key for permitting said device to be fed a double space.

8. A type-writing machine having an attachment consisting of mechanism for permitting the carriage to be fed a double space, or a single space automatically, upon the maintained depression of each single key.

9. An attachment for a type-writing machine comprising a movable stop adapted to be secured to the pawl-carrier of said machine to limit the movement ofthe pawl, and means automatically operated upon the depression of each key for moving said stop out of and into operative relation to said pawl.

10. An attachment for a type-writing machine comprisinga non-yielding pawl, a yielding pawl, a pawl-carrier,a movable stop adapted to be secured to the pawl-carrier to limit the movement of the yielding pawl, means for moving said stop in one direction, and means for moving it and retarding its movement in the other direction.

11. A type-writing machine having a carriage-feeding escapement controlled by each type-key, said escapement being provided with a movable stop adapted to permit the carriage to move a single space or a double space and an automatic timing regulator for said stop. 7

12. A type-writing machine having a carriage-feeding escapement controlled by each type-key, and having alternately-operable stops for varying the feeding movement of the carriage, whereby said carriage may be fed automatically a single space or a double space on the depression'of each key.

13. A type-writing machine having a carriage-feeding escapement, said escapement including a double-space stop, and a singlespace stop adapted to be moved upon each depression of each keyinto and out of operative position, and a series of keys, each of which operates said spacing-escapement.

14:. A type-writing machine having a car-' riage-feeding escapement, a stop thrown into one position by the actuation of each type-key to limit the movement of the carriage to a single space, and means for returning said stop to another position, to permit the carriage to move a double space.

15. A type-writing machine having a series of letter or type keys, a paper-holding device, and means controlled by the duration of depression of each key for imparting a differential movement to the paper-holding device.

16. The combination with an escapement for a type-writing machine, of a movable stop for varying the operation of said escapement, said movable stop being operable a predetermined period of time at each actuation of the escapement, whereby the carriage maybe fed automatically a single space or a double space according to the duration of depression of the key.

17. The combination with an escapement including a carrier actuated by any of the type-keys and having a stationary pawl and a movable pawl, ot' a movable stop thrown into one position with relation to the movable pawl at each actuation of a type-key, and means for automatically returning the stop toanother position, whereby the carriage may be fed automatically a single space or a double space according to the duration of depression of the key.

18. An attachment for a type-writing machine havinga movable stop to limit the movement of a portion of the escapement, means for moving said stop to operative position and timed means for returning said stop to inoperative position, whereby the carriage may be fed automatically a single space or a double space according to the duration of depression of the key.

19. In a type-writer, a letter-key in combination with a reactionary device for causing a variable movement of the paper-carriage, said reactionary device being operated by said letter-key and being adjustable as to the duration of its action, whereby the carriage may be fed automatically a single space or a donble space according to the duration of depression of the key.

20. In a type-writer, the combination with the paper-carriage and escapement mechanism, ot' a reactionary device operable by the depression of any one of aplurality of letterkeys, whereby said keys, when depressed, for an abnormal period of time, cause a movement of the paper-carriage of abnormal length.

ICO

21. A type-Writing machine having a pluthe feeding of the carriage a single space or a rality of type-keys,eaeh havinga stroke of un double space. I 0 varying length, and an escapement provided In testimony whereof I have affixed my sigwith a single yielding pawl adapted toengage nature in presence of two Witnesses.

a toothed bar and stops operable upon the ERL V. BEALS.

depression of each of the type-keys at any Witnesses:

time-for permitting the pawl to yield a single I M. B. MAY, space or a double space, and thereby permit 1 C. C. STECHER. 

